This is a picture of a stationary steam engine
demonstration unit, complete with vertical boiler,
a horizontal single cylinder engine, a vertical single
cylinder engine, a steam operated boiler feed pump,
and a hand operated boiler feed pump. The three
valves located in front of boiler near top (whistle
chain is hooked to lower valve) are called "test
cocks". Each valve represents a different level of
water in the boiler. When a valve is opened and
steam comes out, the water level is below the valve.
Sight glasses are common, but due to possible clogs
in fittings, can give false readings.

This is a typical vertical stationary steam
engine.
It has two cylinders, reversing linkages, and this
particular engine has a variable displacement feed
pump to force water into the boiler. Each revolution
of the engine pumps a small amount of water back
into the boiler to maintain water level. By turning
hand wheel, located in center, one can adjust the
amount of water to be pumped equal to the amount
being used by the engine.

These engines are called Stirling Cycle engines.
similar to steam engines in appearance, they run
on hot air. The engines all have flywheels (the fan
blades act as a flywheel) to carry the engines through
dead spots in their cycles. Stirling Cycle engines
operate by heating one end of a tube sealed with
trapped air. A displacer piston(very loose fitting) is
moved back and forth in this heated tube, forcing
the air to migrate from the hot end to the cool end
causing the air to contract(cool) and then expand
(heated). This fluctuation causes pressure changes
which operate a power piston to turn a flywheel. The
fan operates from a kerosene lamp so you can read
and have a cool breeze at the same time.

This engine is commonly called a "hit and
miss",
due to it's ability to fire once, then coast for several
revolutions before firing again depending on load.
These early engines were very fuel efficient, but
HUGE for their horsepower rating. Similar to steam
engines in design, a 15 HP model would weigh maybe
thousands of pounds(still much less than 15 horses).
This particular engine is a 1/4 scale of an OLDS
engine and has a water jacket for cooling.

This engine is a scale of a CANFIELD. It also is a
"hit and miss" with a ball weight governor
similar
to steam engines of the time. These single cylinder
engines were also called "one lungers" and were
used to pump water and oil. They were also used to
generate electricity and operate other machinery.
Due to enormous varieties of design and numerous
manufacturers, They are quite collectable.

This engine is the missing link, bringing us back
to
modern times, and is the final step before the age
of the turbine. The modern internal combustion
engine is hard to beat. It is smooth, dependable,
and with new electronics very efficient. The engine
pictured is a 1/4 scale CONLEY V8. But, folks,
lets face it, nothing really beats the ear-splitting
sound of a good JET.